News

2013 US Open to feature Monday final

The US Open is adding a day to its tournament schedule in 2013, extending Finals Weekend into a four-day event featuring a Sunday afternoon women’s final and a Monday men’s final. The women’s semifinals will kick off the action on Friday afternoon, with the men’s semifinals remaining in their traditional Saturday afternoon slot.

The new schedule adds an extra day of tennis for fans and provides a day of rest between the semifinals and finals for the players. Previously, the semifinals and finals for both men and women had been scheduled on back-to-back days.

In addition, the US Open will be increasing its base prize money by $4 million in 2013, which doubles the $2 million increase in 2012. The tournament has now increased prize money by 34 percent since the 2011 US Open.

Base prize money for the 2013 US Open will be $29.5 million, with players having an opportunity to add an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money based on their results in the 2013 Emirates Airline US Open Series.

"Both the prize money increase and the addition of a day of rest are great for the players," said defending champion and four-time US Open women’s winner Serena Williams. "These moves make the tournament stronger than it’s ever been for all players."

"I’m pleased that the USTA has modified the US Open schedule to include a day of rest between the semifinals and final," said Andy Murray, the 2012 US Open men’s champion. "Together with the prize money increase, it’s good that they've taken on board the players’ concerns."

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Under the new format, the US Open is scheduled to conclude on Monday, Sept. 9, in 2013, with the men’s singles final to be played at 5 p.m. ET and the semifinals held during the day session on Saturday, Sept. 7. The women’s singles semifinals will be played on Friday, Sept. 6 during the day session, and the women’s final will take place on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 4:30 p.m., in the time slot where the men’s singles final has traditionally been played.

In the new schedule, no competition will be scheduled for the second Saturday night of the tournament.

"We recognize the increased physicality required to compete at the highest level of the sport, and we have responded to the players’ request for a scheduled day of rest between the singles semifinals and finals," said Jon Vegosen, USTA Chairman of the Board and President. "The record increase in US Open prize money and the changes in the next year’s schedule are aimed at rewarding the players’ talents and accommodating the rigors of the modern professional game."

Finals Weekend, from the women’s semifinals through the men’s final, will be broadcast by CBS Sports. The 2013 US Open complete schedule and round-by-round prize money, including exact start times for the singles semifinals and the doubles competitions, will be announced at a later date. The USTA is currently in consultation with the men’s and women’s players, as well as the ATP World Tour and the WTA, regarding the distribution of prize money by round.